Intelligent Patient Interface for Ophthalmic Instruments

ABSTRACT

An ophthalmic examination system comprising a headrest with a detection element, and an ophthalmic instrument (OI) having a microprocessor and a sensor in communication with the microprocessor. The sensor is configured to detect the presence of the detection element, and the headrest is configured for coupling to the OI.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/367,513, filed onFeb. 7, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/800,333, filed on May 5, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,074, which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/643,280, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,216,985, filed on Aug. 18, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/405,287, entitled “IntelligentPatient Interface for Ophthalmic Instruments”, filed on Aug. 21, 2002.Priority of the aforementioned filing dates is hereby claimed, and thedisclosures of the earlier applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to ophthalmic instruments suchas pupilometers, and, more particularly, to intelligent headrestsconfigured to couple with pupilometers and ocular examination equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most ophthalmic instruments, including pupilometers, have patientinterfaces such as eyecups. However, eyecups presently are dumb devices.That is, their only function is to enable an ophthalmic instrument to bepositioned in close proximity to an individual's eye and to isolate theeye. They are usually attached by simple attaching means or areintegrated into ophthalmic instruments, but have no means ofcommunicating with the instruments to which they are attached.

Devices, such as pupilometers, are used to monitor and detect variousoptical characteristics. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,260,968 and6,116,736 (the entireties of both which are incorporated herein byreference), as well as U.S. application Ser. No. 09/711,675, filed Nov.9, 2000 (the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference), alldisclose pupilometers that are used to detect papillary irregularity.They are often used with eyecups so that the examiner can isolate thepupil. However, the state of the art in eyecups does not permitcommunication between the eyecup and the pupilometer such that thepupilometer obtains information about the patient from the eyecup beingused.

Intelligent headrests and eyecups can be useful for providinginformation about certain characteristics of the individual beingexamined, such as whether or not the individual is an adult or a child.Such information can be very useful for calibrating the ophthalmicinstrument.

There is a need for headrests that can communicate with the ophthalmicinstruments, such as pupilometers, and can provide information about theindividual being examined. Such headrests may provide medicalpractitioners with improved ocular data. Likewise, there is a need forintelligent headrest/ophthalmic instrument systems that are capable ofproviding medical practitioners with improved ocular data.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a headrest for use withan ophthalmic instrument is described. In one embodiment, the headrestincludes a distal plate and at least one arm projecting proximally fromthe distal plate. A face pad is attached to the end of the with arm forresting the headrest against an individual's face. The distal plate hasa central aperture and an attachment slot for attaching the headrest toan ophthalmic instrument. At least one detection element is integratedwith the distal plate. The detection element can be a magnet, a LED, anoptical filter, a metal projection, a radio frequency transmitter, orany other mechanism that can be detected by a sensor on an ophthalmicinstrument.

In another embodiment, the headrest includes an ophthalmic instrumentconnector, a rotation ring connected to the ophthalmic instrumentconnector, and an eyecup connected to the rotation ring. The rotationring includes at least one receptacle that receives a detection element.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an ophthalmicexamination system comprises a headrest having a detection element andan ophthalmic instrument (OI) comprising a microprocessor and a sensorin communication with the microprocessor. The sensor can be configuredto detect the presence of the detection element, and the headrest can beconfigured for coupling to the OI. The OI can be a pupilometer,glaucometer, opthalmoscope, or any other ophthalmic instrument now knownor later invented. The OI and the headrest can communicate via thedetection element and the sensor.

In one embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two, three,four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more magnets, and thesensor is made up of one, two three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, or more Hall-effect sensors.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more LEDS, and thesensor is made up of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, or more photo detectors.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more opticalfilters, and the sensor is made up of one, two, three, four, five, six,seven, eight, nine, ten, or more special photo-detectors.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more metalprojections, and the sensor is made up of one, two, three, four, five,six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more switches that can be shorted bythe one or more metal projections.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of aradio-frequency transmitter, and the sensor is made up of a radiofrequency receiver.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of amicroprocessor having a memory, and the sensor is made up of aninterface between the OI and the headrest. When the headrest is coupledto the OI, it can interface with the OI through an interface, such asany of those known in the computer arts, including but not limited to aparallel port, a serial port, a universal serial bus, an opticalinterface, an RF interface or an extension of photodiodes and detectors(linear array), reading a bar-code which is part of the headrest, or aprogrammed magnetic strip or radio transmission contained in theheadrest, or any other type of interface known in the art. Thus,information between the microprocessor in the headrest and themicroprocessor in the OI can be shared. The information can include aunique code to identify the type of headrest being used. For example, aheadrest for a child or infant can have a unique identifier that candistinguish it from a headrest made for an adult. In addition, theheadrest can be programmed using programming means provided in the OIwhen the headrest and OI are attached.

In another aspect of the invention, an OI has a detachable headrest, amicroprocessor, and a sensor in communication with the microprocessor.The detachable headrest can include a detection element, and the sensorcan be configured to detect the presence of the detection element. TheOI can be a pupilometer, glaucometer, opthalmoscope, or any otherophthalmic instrument now known or later invented. The headrest cancommunicate with the rest of the OI via the detection element and thesensor.

In one embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two, three,four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more magnets, and thesensor is made up of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, or more Hall-effect sensors.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more LEDS, and thesensor is made up of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, or more photo detectors.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more specialphoto-detectors.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more metalprojections.

In another embodiment, the detection element is made up of aradio-frequency transmitter, and the sensor is made up of a radiofrequency receiver.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom consideration of the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference is next made to a brief description of the drawings, which areintended to illustrate an ophthalmic examination system and ophthalmicexamination instruments having intelligent headrests. The drawings anddetailed description which follow are intended to be merely illustrativeand are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a headrest according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the headrest depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the headrest depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a headrest according to anotherembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top of the headrest depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a headrest and associated OI according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the headrest of FIG. 5 taken from anotherangle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, an ophthalmic examination system is intended toenable an OI that measures information from the eye to detect whether aheadrest or other ophthalmic patient interface like an eyecup orstimulation source is attached and further to determine the type ofheadrest that is attached (e.g., pediatric open-air, adult open-air,eyecup with orientation sensitivity, eyecup with finger ports, etc.).Based on the information unique to the patient interface, the OI canself-configure for the type of measurement to be made and calibrateaccordingly. In addition to calibration, information regarding ambientlight levels at the pupil can be determined. For example, the use of anenclosed opaque eyecup would shield the eye being measured from mostambient light thus allowing dark adapted measurements in a lighted room.In addition, if the headrest is not detected the OI will be preventedfrom taking measurements in order to avoid inaccurate measurements. Insome cases, the risk of cross-contamination may be reduced where uniquepatient information is actually stored in a memory device which isintegrated into the headrest.

For example, if the OI is a Neuroptics pupilometer, such as those shownin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,736 and 6,260,968, as well as U.S. applicationSer. No. 09/711,675, filed Nov. 9, 2000, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference, it is beneficial for the pupilometer to knowwhether or not the headrest is attached to it. If it is not attached andmeasurements can be taken, these measurements may not be as accurate asthey would otherwise be if the headrest is attached.

Several different types of headrests are contemplated (e.g., adult vs.pediatric or closed eyecup vs. open eyecup). It can be beneficial toknow which headrest is attached to the pupilometer, because thepupilometer can calibrate itself according to the different parametersof adult verses pediatric patients. Likewise, if the pupilometer candetect whether the headrest is an open vs. closed eyecup, informationregarding the amount of ambient light which surrounds the eye can bedetermined and the pupilometer calibrated in accordance therewith. Thiscan be useful in determining the expected versus measuredsize/reactivity of the eye. Thus, the OI can be configured to implementsoftware algorithms (i.e., reconfigure itself for intended use) basedupon information received from the headrest.

One example of self-configuration is the ability to change the choice ofthe targeted eye according to the orientation of the headrest; so thatmechanical rotation from right-to-left is reflected automatically in thesoftware.

FIGS. 1-3 show a headrest 10 that can be attached to differentophthalmic instruments. The headrest 10 includes an attachment plate 40.The attachment plate 40 has a central aperture 35. The attachment plateconnects to the lens or face plate of an ophthalmic instrument, and thecentral aperture 35 provides the ophthalmic instrument with a window toan individual's eye.

Just below the attachment plate 40 is an attachment slot 50 andconnection lip 60, which are configured for connection to an ophthalmicinstrument. Other modes of connection can also be used. Arms 25 projectfrom the attachment plate at an angle of about one hundred degreesrelative to the attachment plate. Face pads 30 are integrally formed orotherwise connected to the ends of the arms 25. The face pads 30 areadapted for bracing the headrest 10 against an individual's face,particularly around an eye during examination. The headrest 10 also hasopenings 70 formed into the arms 25, which allow light to pass throughto the eye.

Detection elements 20 are integrated into the attachment plate 40. FIGS.1-3 show four detection elements 20, but more than four or less thanfour detection elements can also be used. The detection elements, asfurther described below, can be magnets, LEDS, optical filters, metalprojections, radio frequency transmitters, or any other mechanism thatcan be detected by a sensor built into an ophthalmic instrument.

The headrest 10 can be used in combination with an OI that senses thepresence of a given headrest, and determines the type of headrest beingused. The OI can include a sensor integrated therewith which can sense adetection element integrated into the headrest. For example, FIGS. 1-3show a headrest 10, which is configured to be coupled or attached to anOI (not shown), such as a pupilometer, glaucometer, opthalmoscope, orany other ophthalmic examination instrument, such as any of thepupilometers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,736 and 6,260,968, aswell as U.S. application Ser. No. 09/711,675, filed Nov. 9, 2000, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. As explained above, aconnection slot 50 and connection lip 60 are configured for connectionto an OI.

In one embodiment, the OI includes a Hall-effect sensor with one, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more Hall-effect switchesintegrated into its design. The Hall-effect switches can detect thepresence of a magnetic field. The detection elements 20 on the headrest10 can be magnets embedded in the headrest 10, such that when theheadrest 10 is attached or coupled to the OI, the magnets 20 line upwith the Hall-effect switches, and the Hall-effect sensor will be ableto detect the magnets in the headrest. The Hall-effect switches can bein communication with a microprocessor, such that the microprocessorreceives information about the number and orientation of the magnets inthe headrest. The microprocessor will include programming configured toprocess that information to determine the presence and type of headrestbeing used. For example, the use of n magnets and n number Hall-effectswitches allows for 2^(n)−1 types of headrests with “n” defined as thenumber of magnets and Hall-effect switches. Thus, if there are fourmagnets and four Hall-effect switches, the microprocessor of the OI canidentify up to fifteen different varieties of headrests.

In another embodiment, the detection elements 20 can be LEDS or they canalternatively be optical filters. According to such embodiments, thecorresponding sensor in the OI could be a photo detector. The system canbe configured so that there are up to four LEDS in the headrest 10 andfour corresponding photo detectors in the OI that line up with the LEDS,thus leading the OI's microprocessor to identify up to fifteen differenttypes of headrests based on the equation 2^(n)−1, where “n” is definedas the number of LEDS or optical filters and photo detectors. Of coursethere can be more than four LEDS and photo detectors, thus increasingthe number of possible headrests based on the equation 2^(n)−1.

Alternatively, there can be one LED emitting any number of differentwavelengths of light, each wavelength corresponding to a different typeof headrest. The wavelength sensed by the photo detector is transmittedto the microprocessor, which can include programming configured toprocess that information and to determine the presence and type ofheadrest being used.

In another embodiment, the headrest 10 includes detection elements 20,which are metal projections. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 1-3,there can be up to four metal projections that are adapted to contactfour corresponding switches in the OI. Like in the above examples, theOI's microprocessor can then detect up to fifteen different types ofheadrests based on the equation 2^(n)−1, where “n” is defined as thenumber of metal projections and corresponding switches. Of course, therecan be more than four metal projections and switches, thus increasingthe number of possible headrests based on the equation 2^(n)−1.

In another embodiment, the OI includes one, two, three, four, five, six,seven, eight, nine, or more LEDS integrated into its design. The OI alsoincludes one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or morephoto detectors. The corresponding detection elements in the head restcan be mirrors, which reflect light emitted by the LEDS back to thephoto detectors. The position and number of mirrors dictates the type ofheadrest being used. The photo detectors detect the light beingreflected by the mirrors and transmit signals to the microprocessor,which can process the information to determine the presence and type ofheadrest being used.

In yet another embodiment, the detection element in the headrest can bea radio frequency transmitter. The corresponding sensor in the OI can bea radio frequency receiver coupled to the microprocessor of the OI. Thereceiver can detect the frequency being emitted by the transmitter andsend that information to the microprocessor, which can includeprogramming for processing that information to determine the presenceand type of headrest being used.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of a headrest in the form of aneyecup 100. The eyecup 100 includes three main components: 1) an OIconnector 130; 2) a rotation ring 160; and 3) a flexible cup 190. The OIconnector 130 includes an alignment slot 135, which is designed to lineup with an alignment tab in the OI. The connector 130 also includes amechanical stop 137, which is designed t stop the rotation of therotation ring 160. The rotation ring 160 is attached to the OI connector130 by axially mating with the channel 142 (better seen in FIG. 6)formed into the distal end of the OI connector 130. The OI connector 130also includes a semicircular lip 139 that is designed to mate with asemicircular slot 330 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) in the OI.

The rotation ring 160 includes magnet cavities 165 for placement ofmagnets therein. The eyecup 100 is shown with only two magnet cavities165, but there can two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ormore such cavities. The rotation ring 160 also includes an alignmentslot 167 for proper alignment with the flexible cup 190. The proximalside of the rotation ring 160 is mated with the channel 142 and canrevolve axially around the OI connector 130, restricted in its evolutiononly by the mechanical stop 137.

The flexible cup 190 includes an alignment lip 195 for aligning the cup190 with the rotation ring 160. The mating of the alignment lip 195 andthe alignment slot 167 fixes the cup 190 to the rotation ring 160 sothat the cup 190 cannot revolve axially around the rotation ring 160.Thus, when the rotation ring 160 is manually rotated or revolved, theflexible cup 190 revolves with it. The flexible cup 190 includes an apex197, which is designed to align with the temporal side of an eye socket.

In the eyecup 100, magnets (not shown) are placed in the magnet cavities165. When the eyecup 100 is attached to faceplate 300 of an OI, as shownin an exploded view in FIGS. 6 and 7, one of the magnets lines up withone of at least two Hall-effect switches 230 mounted on a circuit board200, which is integrated with the faceplate 300. The printed circuitboard 200 has the Hall-effect switches 230 mounted on it in apredetermined layout. The Hall-effect switches can detect the presenceof a magnetic field. The circuit board 200 also includes a ZeroInsertion Force (ZIF) connector 250 for a ribbon cable. The ZIFconnector 250 is the interface between the circuit board 200 and themicroprocessor (not shown) that is in the OI, thus providing a path forthe transmission of data from the circuit board 200 to themicroprocessor. Alignment holes 270 ensure that the circuit board 200 isproperly mounted and aligned with the faceplate 300.

The rotation ring is rotated in one direction in order to use the eyecup100 on the right eye of a patient, and it is rotated in the oppositedirection in order to use the eyecup 100 on the left eye of a patient.Thus, when the eyecup is used on the right eye of a patient, only one ofthe magnets aligns with the Hall-effect switch at, for example, position230 a, while the other magnet does not align with any Hall-effectswitch. When the eyecup is used on the left eye of the patient, againonly one of the magnets aligns with another Hall-effect switch at, forexample position 230 c, while the other magnet does not align with anyHall-effect switch. Thus, the microprocessor is able to processinformation about the eye on which the OI device is being used based onthe Hall-effect switch that is activated. In the above examples, ifHall-effect switch at position 230 a is switched, that means the eyecup100 is aligned to measure the right eye of the patient. Likewise, if theHall-effect switch at position 230 c is switched, that means the eyecup100 is aligned to measure the left eye of the patient. The OI may needto adjust itself based on which eye is being examined. Thus, armed withinformation about the eye being examined, the microprocessor cancalibrate the OI device for appropriate measurement using calibrationsoftware integrated into the microprocessor.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a system including an OIand one or more detachable headrests. The detachable headrest includes amicroprocessor and programming including memory for storing data, suchas a unique identifier for identifying the type of headrest. Theheadrest includes an interface for communicating with the microprocessorof the OI. For example, the OI can include a serial port for connectionwith the headrest. This enables communication and transfer of databetween the OI and the headrest. Upon connection, the OI can receive theheadrest's unique identifier and can use that information to determinethe type of headrest it is. In addition, the headrest can individuallybe programmed to contain unique information about the patient includingID, prescription or other patient orders such as frequency ofmeasurement required. This programming can be internal or external tothe headrest (e.g., with the headrest attached to the OI or with theheadrest interfaced to some other external programming device through aninterface (IrDA, serial, USB, etc.)). Information programmed into thememory of the headrest can be passed through the interface to the OI.The interface between the OI and headrest can be an IrDA, serial, USB,optical interface, an RF interface or an extension of photodiodes anddetectors (linear array) reading a bar-code, which is integrated into oronto the headrest with a label.

In another embodiment, the headrest can include a magnetic strip that ispreprogrammed with certain information, such as the age of the patientor any other identifying indicia of the patient, whether the headrest isbeing used for critical care or opthalmology, etc. The OI can include asensor or reader to read the magnetic strip on the headrest and toreceive the information contained in the magnetic strip.

In yet another embodiment, a radio transmission programmer can beintegrated into the headrest, and a receiver integrated into the OI.

The OI can include a keypad to enter data or program the OI, such as thepupilometers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,736 and 6,260,968, aswell as U.S. application Ser. No. 09/711,675, filed Nov. 9, 2000. Forexample, the patient's identifier can be programmed into the OI, so thatthe OI rejects any headrest that is programmed with a differentidentifier. Alternatively, the microprocessor of the OI can beprogrammed to deactivate the headrest after a set number of uses, or ifthe patient identifier in the OI does not match the identifier that hasbeen programmed into the headrest. This system reduces the risk ofcross-contamination (body fluids, etc.) due to improper use of headrestsbetween patients.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particularforms disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling with the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. An ophthalmic examination system comprising: a headrest comprising adetection element, wherein the detection element comprises aradio-frequency transmitter; and an ophthalmic instrument (OI)comprising a microprocessor and a sensor in communication with themicroprocessor, said sensor configured to detect the presence of thedetection element, said sensor comprising a radio-frequency receiver,wherein the headrest is configured for coupling to the OI.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the OI is a pupilometer.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the OI is a glaucometer.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein theOI is an opthalmoscope.
 5. An OI comprising: a detachable headrestcomprising a detection element, the detection element comprising aradio-frequency transmitter; a microprocessor; and a sensor comprising aradio-frequency receiver, wherein the sensor is in communication withthe microprocessor, said sensor configured to detect the presence of thedetection element.
 6. The OI of claim 5, wherein the OI is apupilometer.
 7. The OI of claim 5, wherein the OI is a glaucometer. 8.The OI of claim 5, wherein the OI is an opthalmoscope.